Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-07-27
THE BLAIR BUSINESS.
LITTER ON TIE SUBJECT OF MIXED
SCHOOLS.
Resignation in Accordance with the Re-
quest Of the City Democratic
Committee.

Mr.. Lewis H. Blair yesterday wrote
the following letter to Mr.. Charles E..
Wingo, superintendent of the City
Democratic Committee
RICHMOND, Va, July 26, 1887.
Dear Sir,-Not attending the meet
ing of the committee last night because
believed nothing of importance was
before it, furnishing the delegates to
the State convention with certificates
being only routine business, 1 did not
learn of its action with regard to my
self till / saw the morning paper, and |
now q A. NJ hasten to respond to its
action.
make no criticism upon its course
and the remarks of individual men,
bers, because accord to it and to them
the same freedom of opinion that /
claim and that j exercise for myself.
] deprecate no criticism, shrink from
no logical-indeed, from no illogical,
which are frequently worse than the
logical-censequences of any position /
take for / only take stand after am
prepared successfully to maintain it by
facts and by arguments, but after |
have taken it / do not seek to retreat,
although | may regret the hostility
sometimes very bitter indeed-of ac-
quaintances, the denunciations of the
public, and the arrangement of friends.
Themistocles once said to the Athe-
mans, or rather to the general who
was their mouthpiece, "Strike, but
hear" and SO say / and if | cannot
maintain my position among thought
full people then must fall, then | will
fall, and then | am perfectly content to
fall. But while proving my point and
maintaining my position, | say to my
opponents Prove also your point and
defend your position. The day has gone
by forever among intelligent, thoughtful
peoples, unless perhaps Richmond and
the South be- an exception, when clamor,
however vehement, Orpredictions, how
ever dreadful, will pass for either sense,
WISDOM. or craftsmanship. The world
of thought is wearied, utterly wearied,
of " "supposings, ""prophecies, d" ifs"
"how would you like ?" &c, and it de-
mands proof, and it condemns no man
because his ideas traverse long received
prepossessions.
II the South was q little or even
big island in the vast South seas, scout
off by distance that the world could
not get to it and it could not get to
the world, it might then safely main
tain and even encourage all of its many
and great prepossessions but as it is
in the world and seeks to be apart of the
world it must accommodate itself 10
the current ideasof the world, whether
moral, religious, scientific, or political,
or if it does not it will find itself lying
a wreck in the path of humanity aud a
warning to future generations.
Now, | respectfully request and urge
that all who desire to know the senti-
ments Of the essay that has caused such
commotion in the committee which
has the honor Of being presided over
by yourself, read the essay and ponder
over it, and if, having done so, they can
dispute any of the facts or disprove any
of the arguments, or refutc any OF the
reasons, let them do it, either publicly
or privately, and it will give me infinite
pleasure to walk the streets barefooted
with q garment Of sackcloth reaching to
my knees and with my head bare and
covered With ashes, and cry "Ptccari!
Pcccdu! :" hut until they can do this
modesty, at least, should counsel them
to hold their peace, for in this case it
will not he the sssailed but the assail-
ant that in the end is the sufferer.
OF course cannot, under the cir
be any longer your lieu
tenant on the City Democratic Central
Committee. nor can I longer represent
Ward thereon, and | there
fore now respectfully resign both of
my positions of trust and of honor into
your hands.
With great esteem, both personally
and officially" remain yours truly,
LEWIS II. BLAIR.